Automatic flap folder

ABSTRACT

AN AUTOMATIC FLAP FOLDER FOR FOLDING THE LEADING AND TRAILING FLAPS OF A PAPERBOARD SHEET WHICH IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING TRANSFORMED INTO A PACKAGE. A ROTATING, LEADING FLAP FOLDING ARM AND A ROTATING, ARCUATE, TRAILING FLAP FOLDING ARM ARE POSITIONED ON AXES ABOVE A CONVEYOR CARRYING THE SHEET AND CONTENTS TO BE THERE ENCLOSED. AS THE SHEET PASSAGES TOWARD AND BENEATH THE ARMS, THE LEADING FLAP IMPINGES UPON THE FIRST FOLDING ARM AND IS TURNED OVER THE CONTENTS OF THE PACKAGE. PARTIALLY COINCIDENT WITH THIS OPERATION, THE ARCUATE ARM ENGAGES THE PREVIOUSLY ERECTED, TRAILING FLAP AND IN COOPERATION WEITH CONTINUING MOVEMENT OF THE SHEET FOLDS THE TRAILING FLAP OVER THE PACKAGE CONTENTS.

NOV- 23, 1971 A. FREAKES AUTOMATIC FLAP FOLDER 4 Sheets-Sheet l Flled June 1. 1970 INVENTOR.

FREAKES ANTHONY BY y HIS AT TORNEYS Nov. 23, 1971 A. FREAKES 3,621,534

AUTOMATIC FLAP FOLDER Filed June 1 1970 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ANTHONY FREAKES 645 er) 54J 525 BY HIS ATTORNEYS Nov, 23, 1971 A. FREAKES 3,621,634

AUTOMATIC FLAP FOLDER Flled June 1 L97() f1 Sheets-Shoot 3 INVINTOR. ANTHONY FREAKES BY y, f'

L52 H l 5 AT TORNEY Nov. 23, 1971 v A. FREAKES 3,621,534

AUTOMATI C FLAI FOLDER Figli INVENTOR.

ANTHONY FREAKES BMMCF'M HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,621,634 AUTOMATIC FLAP FOLDER Anthony Freakes, Leonia, NJ., assignor to General Corrugated Machinery Co., Inc., Palisades Park, NJ. Filed June 1, 1970, Ser. No. 42,159 Int. Cl. B65b 11/10 U.S. Cl. 53--209 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An automatic flap folder for folding the leading and trailing flaps of a paperboard sheet which is in the process of being transformed into a package. A rotating, leading flap folding arm and a rotating, arcuate, trailing flap folding arm are positioned on axes above a conveyor carrying the sheet and contents to be there enclosed. As the sheet passes toward and beneath the arms, the leading flap impinges upon the rst folding arm and is turned over the contents of the package. Partially coincident with this operation, the arcuate arm engages the previously erected, trailing ap and in cooperation with continuing movement of the sheet folds the trailing flap over the package contents.

This invention relates generally to automatic packaging machinery, and more particularly relates to means for automatically folding the leading and trailing flaps of a paperboard sheet as such sheet, in the course of being transformed into a package, advances past the folding means.

The invention has particular application to a multistau tion packaging system of the type adapted to transform flat, paperboard sheets or the like into containers for materials deposited upon such sheets in the course of the packaging operation. In a typical instance, such contentsbearing sheets will advance through the packaging system via a conveyor chain and pusher, a conveyor belt or similar mechanism, and, at the various system stations, feeding of sheets, orientation thereof, placing of contents, folding, sealing, and similar operations occur, directed ultimately toward yielding a completely formed, contents bearing package, suitable for immediate shipping or mailing,

The folding operations referred to in the foregoing paragraph will typically include sub-operations directed toward enclosing about the package contents a pair of opposed flaps, such as the leading and trailing flaps of the advancing sheet. To accomplish such sub-operations, simple and effective, single-station means, and means which are well adapted to a conveyor type operation are desirable.

In accordance with the foregoing, it may be regarded as an object of the present invention to provide highly effective, flap folding apparatus adapted for automatic conveyor operation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide ap folding apparatus enabling efficient single-station folding of the leading and trailing Iflaps of a sheet advancing toward the apparatus in the course of an automated packaging operation.

Briefly, the foregoing and other objects, advantages, features and uses will become apparent in the course of the following specification when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. They are achieved in the present invention by means of a rotating, leading flap folding arm and of a rotating arcuate, trailing flap, folding arm. Both the arms are positioned above the conveyor mechanism carrying the contents-bearing sheet, on axes generally transverse to the direction of sheet movement. As the sheet contacts the leading ap folding arm, which, in the illustrated and described embodiment, includes a pair of diametrically opposed arms, the continuing forward ICC motion of the sheet in cooperation with the arm effects folding of the leading flap. Partially coincident with this operation, the arcuate arm engages the trailing or rear flap, which has previously been erected, and in cooperation with the continuing movement of the sheet, folds the rear flap over the package contents. The leading flap folder may have one arm or any number of equally spaced arms. lf it has three arms, it rotates at 1/3 the speed of the trailing ap folder etc.

The invention is diagrammatically illustrated, by way of example, in the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a block diagram, illustrating in schematic fashion, operation of a packaging machine utilizing the present invention;

FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5 are elevational views of the apparatus of the invention; the figures illustrate successive positions of the apparatus as a sheet advances thereto, and illustrates how the folding operation is accomplished; and

FIG. `6 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIGS. 2 through 5.

FIG. l is a block diagram illustrating in schematc fashion, operation of a multistation packaging machine with which the present invention may be utilized. The showing made therein is intended for illustrative purposes and should not be regarded as limiting the scope of the invention. The particular system illustrated in the tgure is intended for the packaging of books, pamphlets or other sheet material. However, it will be readily obvious to those skilled in the art that the folding apparatus of the present invention may be used for other purposes and in conjunction with other machines and/or systems.

The supply of sheets 10 is stacked on a sheet feeder and, at station 12, a single sheet is delivered from the bottom of the stack. `One flap of the sheet is folded to a vertical position at station 14 and then at station 16 the sheet is turned by the required amount (say so that the already erected flap is to the rear with respect to the direction of travel of the sheet through the machine. Generally, operation at station 16 is carried out by moving the sheet from a first conveyor to a second conveyor whose direction of motion is at the desired orientation with respect to the direction of motion of the first conveyor.

At station i8, the product is placed on the main panel of the sheet and against the erected, rear or trailing panel. The front and rear aps are now folded over the product at station 20, which will hereinafter be described in detail, and the side aps are erected at station 22. Hot melt adhesive is selectively applied to the side flaps at station 24 so that adhesive will not be applied to the product, and, at station 26, the side flaps are folded over the front and rear flaps. At station 28, the flaps are held closed until the adhesive sets and at station 30 the package is delivered from the machine for other processing such as addressing or bulk packaging.

Station 2lithe subject matter of the present invention-is shown in the detail in FIGS. 2 through 6. As seen therein, the flap folding apparatus consists basically of a rotating, leading flap, folding arm 4.0i and a rotating, arcuate, trailing flap folding arm 42. As best seen in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5, both the arms are mounted for rotation on individual axes 44 and 46 which overlie and are transverse to the direction of movement Sti! of conveyor means 52 and of the advancing sheet 54 positioned thereupon. In the sense of FIGS. 2-5 it is seen that such direction of movement 50 is from left to right, and adopting this convention, for the purposes of concrete illustration, the direction of rotation of arms 40 and 42 is counterclockwise-as is indicated by the arrows 56 and S3.

The leading flap folding arms 40 is seen, in the embodiment illustrated, to include a pair of member arms 41 and 43, oppositely extending from the common shaft 44. These member arms are somewhat displaced longitudinally from the diameter of shaft `44 to form a pair of shoulders 4S and 47. The arms 41 and 43 are seen to be generally bar-like in form except at the ends thereof where they are tapered to form curved end portions "49 and 51. The arm 40 is driven by drive means 48 (FIG. 6) which will rotate the arm at velocities appropriate to functioning of the apparatus. Such means 48 is conventional and is herein shown as a simple chain drive for shaft 44.

Arcuate, trailing zfiap folding arm 4:2 is seen to be mounted on a shaft 46 above shaft `44. The arm is seen to be characterized by a portion 53 which, at its outer periphery 55, is actually a circumferential arc of the circle centered at the axis of shaft 46. The portion 53 as seen in FIG. 6, may typically be formed of two plates 57, 59 bolted or otherwise joined together. A counterweight portion 58 extends in the opposite direction from portion 53 and provides counter balancing for portion 53. The arm 42 is driven by drive means 52 which will rotate the arm at velocities appropriate to proper functioning of the apparatus. As is the case for means 48, drive means `52 is conventional and is herein shown as a simple chain drive for shaft 46.

With the aid of the foregoing, the operation of the present apparatus may now be set forth. Referring particularly to FIGS. 2 through 5, a time-sequential series of views is depicted clearly setting forth the manner in which the present invention achieves folding of the leading and trailing aps of an advancing sheet.

Thus, in FIG. 2 a sheet 54 is seen advancing on conveyor means 52 toward the station 20 in the direction 50, or from left to right in the sense of the diagram. The sheet 54 includes a leading flap 60, a main panel y61 upon which is positioned the contents 63 intended for packaging (illustratively shown as pamphlets or the like) and a trailing Iflap 62. In accordance with the operation of the invention, the rear flap 62 has, at a prior station in the packaging system, such as at station 14 in FIG. 1, been raised to the vertical position shown. Both arms 40 and 42 are, in the sense of the figures, rotating in counterclockwise directions 56 and 58; arm 42 is rotating more rapidly than arm 40 and in the embodiment shown will rotate at twice the rate of arm 40.

As the sheet 54 reaches station 20, the leading flap 60 first contacts arm 41 of leading flap folding arm 40; such initial contact may be at the curved end portion 49 (which facilitates movement against the arm surface), or may be at a point somewhat closer to shaft 44. In any event, such initial contact is effected as arm 41, which is of sufficient length as to intersect the path of movement of sheet 54 makes an obtuse angle with respect to the then flap place of leading flap 60. The continuing rotation of arm 41, in cooperation with the forward movement of sheet 54 on conveying means 52 then effects turning of the leading flap 60 through an angle of approximately 180 as is suggested by the successive views of FIGS. 2 through 5.

In the meantime, the trailing flap `62, which is retained in its vertical position by support means 64, which rides upon and assists the conveying process, is acted upon by the arcuate portion 55 of arcuate, trailing flap folding arm 42. This action is clearly seen in the successive views of FIGS. 2 through 5,' it is there seen that initial contact with the trailing flap 62 is effected (FIG. 5) as folding of the loading flap 60 is nearly completed. It will be evident that the peripheral surface of portion 55 will tangentially approach the top 65 of the package being formed to complete folding of flap 62 over contents 63. This occurs as the motions of the several arms and the motion of the sheet 54 on its conveying means interact.

FIGS. 2 through 5 also clearly show that the relative velocity of arms 42 and 40 are in the embodiment shown, in the ratio of 2:1. Clearly then it will be seen that arcuate, folding 4arm 42 will first coact with the one member arm 41 and thence with the other member arm 43 of leading flap folding arm 40 in the process of folding pairs of flaps and successive sheets reaching station 20.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the subjoined claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a packaging machine which the package to be closed moves therealong from left to right with the contents thereof positioned on the main panel of a sheet to be folded into said package, and with the trailing ap of the sheet erected, means for closing the leading flap and the trailing flap, comprising:

a leading flap folding arm rotatable in a counterclockwise direction about an axis above and transverse to the path of movement of said panel, the rotation of said arm effecting intersection of said arm with the projected path of movement of said sheet, the velocity of said sheet being such as to cause the front edge of said leading flap to initially impinge upon said arm and in consequence of continuing rotation of said arm and movement of said sheet under the axis of rotation of said arm to be turned through an angle of approximately and an arcuate, trailing lap folding arm mounted on an axis above the path of movement of said sheet, said arm being rotatable in a direction Igenerally counterclockwise with respect to said path of movement, said axis being positioned with respect to said path of movement such that said arm contacts said trailing -ap and effects closing thereof as said sheet passes toward and beneath said axis.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the leading ap folding arm and the arcuate, trailing flap folding arm are positioned in sufiicient proximity to one another that folding of said leading and trailing ap are at least partially coincident operations.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein the leading flap folding arm includes a pair of diametrically opposed arms.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein the rotational velocity of the arcuate, trailing flap folding arm is approximately twice that of the leading ap folding arm.

5. The invention of claim 2 wherein the arcuate periphery of the trailing flap folding arm is approximately tangential to the package at the point where the package passes beneath the rotational axis of said arm.

`6. The invention of claim 1 wherein the leading Hap folding arm includes a plurality of spaced arms.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein the rotational velocity of the arcuate, trailing flap folding arm is approximately equal to that of the leading flap folding arm multiplied by the number of individual arms of the leading flap folding arm.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,268,423 12/1941 Rose 53-374X 2,935,832 5/1960 Mischke 53-374 TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 53-374 

